David wiggins



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

D. WIGGINS.

JOINT FOR TUBULAR FRAME WORK. No. 389,180. Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

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(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

D. WIGGINS.

JOINT .FOR TUBULAR FRAME WORK.

No. 389,180. Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

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DAVID VIGGINS, OF TiONDOl\T, COUNTY OF ll'IIDDTilCSEX", ENGLAND.

JOiNT FOR TUBULAR FRAME-WORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,180, dated September 4, 1888.

Application filed June 4, 1888.

To (LZZ whom t may co/tcelt:

Be it known that I, DMID W'IGGINS, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing in the city of London,in the county of Middlesex, England, have invented a new and useful Improved Form of Tubular Joint for the Construction ofTubular Frame-Vorlgof which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved method xo of making tubular joints for the construction oftubular frame-work 5 and it has for its objects, first, increased strength by forming the jointpiece out of sheet metal stamped, blocked, or bent into the desired shape; secondly, reduction in cost of manufacture, as no machining is necessary after the joint-piece is taken from the dies, and, thirdly, reduction in weight, as the fiber or grain ofthe metal is not subjected to distortion, but follows the lines of the piece 2o without great deviation therefrom, thereby giving maximum strength with minimum weight. I attain these objects by constructing the joint-pieces out of sheet metal, preferably steel, stamped, blocked, or bent into the required shape, and by so forming or shaping the ends of the tubes to be joined that they to a certain extent coincide with the shape of the jointpiece and so preserve the outline of thejoint. Thejoiut piece may consist of one 3o or more members, according to the shape of thejoint, or for convenience of construction.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, Sheet No. 1, are views showing the construction of a T-shaped joint for two round tubes at right angles to one another. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and S, Sheet No. 1, are views showing the construction of a cross-shaped joint for two round tubes at right angles to one another. Figs. 9, 10, and l1, Sheet No. 2,

1,0 are views showing the construction of acrossl 23 5o stamp or block it into a rectangular shape, with a transverse curve in the center of its length, and with its ends--on each side of the said Serial No. 270.046. (No model.)

curve-curved longitudinally,asillustrated by Figs. and 2, Sheet No. 1. This piece of metal A is then blocked or bent to bring the longitudinally-curved ends together, as shown by Fig. 3, Sheet No. l, which thus forms a hollow Tshaped piece, the transverse curve Vforming the hollow part thereof and the two longitudia nally-curved ends the tubular part. One of the two tubes, A and A2, to be joined together is insert-ed in the hollow part of the T-shaped jointpiece, and the other is fitted over the tubular part of the said joint-piece, as illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4, Sheet No. 1, the tubes A and A2 being shown in dot-and-dash lines.

The end of the tube fitting over the tubular part of the joint is stamped or blocked to form a tulip-shaped mouth to fit and coincide with the shoulder of the said T-shaped jointpiece. The several parts are then pinned and brazed together in the ordinary manner.

Referring to Figs. 5, 6, 7, and S, Sheet No. 1, of the accompanying drawings, in joining two or more tubes together to form a crossframe, I take two of the rectangular strips A A, stamped or blocked with transverse and longitudinal curves, as hereinbefore described; but, instead of bending them to form a T- shaped piece, I lay the two together to form a straight tubular piece with a transverse circular eye in the center of its length. Over the circular ends of this straight tubular piece I fit the ends of the tubes A, forming two arms of the cross-frame, and in the circular eye I fit the tube or tubes A. to form the other arms of the cross-frame, as illustrated b v Fig. 7, Sheet No. 1. The ends ofthe tubes AL are blocked to a tulip shape to tit and coincide with the joint-piece and to preserve the outline of the said joint. The several parts are then pinned and brazed together.

In constructing these joint-pieces for commercial use, l form, by stamping or blocking, short tulip-shaped pieces A, as illustrated by Fig. 8, Sheet No. 1, for encircling the split tubular parts of the joint throughout a portion only of their lengths, as illustrated by Fig. 7, Sheet No. 1. In using the joint-pieces the ends of the tribes A2 are left square and butt up against the square ends of the tulipshaped pieces A3.

In forming joints for tubes of sections other than round, I proceed as hereinbefore de- ICO scribed, making the joint piece or' pieces of a suitable shape to snit the section of the tubes used.

Figs. 9, 10, and 11, Sheet No. 2, of the accompanying drawings illustrate the construction of ajoint for a cross-frame of square-sec tion tubes.

In forming elbow joints for round tubes, I stamp or block two pieces of metal, A, into the shape and section shown by Figs. 12 and 13, Sheet No. 2, respectively. These pieces are then laid together to form a tubular elbow, and the ends of the tubes A or the tulipshaped pieces A3 are slipped over their ends, which are preferably reduced in size to preserve the outline of the joint, as illustrated by Fig. 14, Sheet No. 2, and the several parts are then pinned and brazed together in the usual manner. Elbow-joints for tubes of a section other than round are constructed in a similarl manner, the pieces A being shaped to cuorrespond with the section of the tubes used.

It will be obvious that the joint-pieces may be constructed of other shapes than those hereinbefore described, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, to connect together one, two, or more of the tubular members of a frame, of a round or any other section, at any desired angle with respect to each other, and that they are equally applicable to the construction of frames having one or more of its members solid instead of tubular.

Joint-pieces constructed as hereinbefore described are much stronger and lighter than the cast, drOpstamped, or forged joint-pieces hitherto used, and as they require no machining, either to produce the desired fit or to reduce their bulk, as cast, drop-stamped, or forged joint-pieces do, a veryconsiderable reduction in the cost of' manufacture is obtained.

My improved form of tubular joint may be used for any purpose where two or more tubes, either in combination with or without solid bars or their equivalent, require to be joined together at a right or any other angle with respect to each other; and I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction and arrangement of parts herein shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. Furthermore, I wish-it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the application of the said joint to the frame-work of any particular' article or manufacture, but hold myself at liberty to use the said joint for the construction of frame-Work for any purpose, and I enumerate the following. to indicate some of the many uses to which my invention may be applied, Viz: the frames of 4 all types of velocipedes, the frames of perambulators, hand-carts, carriages, or other roadvehicles, the frames of machinery, the frames of bedsteads and the like, and also for balustrades, banisters, palisades, gates, and the like.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is 1. Constructing thejoints of tubular frames specifically as hereinbefore set forth,and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

2. Forming thejoint piece or pieces for the construction of tubular frame-work out of sheet metal blocked, stamped, or bent into shape, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. Forming the T-shaped joint of a'tubular frame as hereinbefore set forth, and illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, Sheet No. l, ofthe accompanying drawings.

4. Forming the cross -joint of a tubular frame as hereinbefore set forth, and illustrated by Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, Sheet No. 1, and Figs. 9, 10, and 11, Sheet No. 2, of the accompanying drawings.

5. Forming the elbow -joint of a tubular frame as hereinbefore set forth, and illustrated by Figs. 12, 13, and 14, Sheet No. 2,0f the accompanying drawings.

6. In ajoint for tubular frame-Work, the co mbination of one or more pieces, A, stamped, blocked, or bent into the required shape, and of one or more pieces, A3, stamped or blocked to tit over and coincide with the piece or pieces A, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In ajoint for the construction of a frame composed of two or more tubular or solid roo members of a round or other section, the use of one or more pieces,A, stamped, blocked, or bent intothe desired shape, as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing 105 

